Local anglers are enjoying great surfperch action lately, and those with boats can fill their buckets with mackerel and sandabs. ??

Surfcaster reports indicate the beaches near Manresa feature great perch structure at this time. There are lots of sandbars and deep spots in the surf line, perfect for feeding surfperch. The water in this area is clean as well, without floating weeds or sea grass. Most of the perch have been barred surf perch and were caught using one to two-inch grubs, with the motor-oil color being the most consistent producer. Fly anglers using dingleberry patterns are finding success as well. ??

Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait reports the fishing is getting better from the wharf. Using sabiki rigs tipped with shrimp bits, pier anglers are catching a variety of perch, jacksmelt, kingfish and sandsoles. One lucky angler pulled in a starry flounder on the wharf this week. Burrell adds that crabbing is still very productive in 180-220 feet of water from Natural Bridges to Davenport. Anglers are still getting limits of Dungeness crab form their pots in this area.

The Soquel Hole area has huge schools of bait at this time. Feeding on anchovies and sardines are thousands of Pacific and Spanish mackerel. Large sabiki rigs or white feather shrimp-fly jigs are working well for the macks. Anglers working the flat sandy edge of the Soquel hole can do very well for sandabs, using the same sabiki rigs with shrimp or squid as bait. Hopefully, the giant bait balls will stay in the area until Salmon season opens on April 7. A number of king salmon have been incidentally caught in the area recently, though all must be released prior to the season opener.

We received no report of giant squid catches in the Monterey Bay area this week. For bigger game, the traveling angler might try the San Francisco Bay. Sturgeon fishing is improving at San Pablo Bay, the Oakland Airport area and by the Dumbarton Bridge. Though many anglers report short hits and lost fish, a number of huge dinosaur sturgeon were caught in those areas last week. For striper action, San Pablo Bay had a very decent bite of smaller schoolie stripers last week, but the Mothball Fleet was the destination for hog stripers.